ABC has a pretty solid line of succession for being on The Bachelor and The Bachelorette. First, you appear on The Bachelor or The Bachelorette. If you finish in third or fourth place and you are exceedingly popular and adorable and want to devote another four months of your life to ABC, you get to be the star of The Bachelorette or The Bachelor (unless you’re Kaitlyn Bristowe or Britt Nilsson, because you’ll have to fight over Bachelorette duties). If you don’t fall into these categories but you still want to be on television or want to find love, you ask the producers to be on Bachelor In Paradise. The formula is tried and true, but I think The Bachelor should work harder to find their next Bachelorette.
The truth is, after 20 seasons of The Bachelor, producers and ABC have so many women from which to choose. Even if you take out the ones that are married and the ones who just aren’t interested in being on television anymore, there’s a pretty serious crop of winners for Bachelorette picking. They’re really just throwing away the baby with the bathwater, aren’t they? All of these fabulous women that they just forget about. While I’m willing to bet money that Caila Quinn will be the next Bachelorette (she is just so adorable on Ben’s season of The Bachelor and her hair is really shiny and her dad owns a toy company), I have some more suggestions of who should appear as the next Bachelorette.
Sharleen Joynt (Juan Pablo’s Season)
This opera singer was so not here for the misogynistic crap that Juan Pablo pulled on his season. In fact, she wasn’t really happy with the whole process of being on The Bachelor in general, but when she left, I was sad. She was one of the only contestants to see the circus for what it was. That being said, what if she got to shape the whole show as the Bachelorette herself? I would love to see the changes she would demand as the Bachelorette.
Danielle Ronco (Juan Pablo's Season)
Any woman deserves a second chance at love if she had to deal with Juan Pablo Galavis for an extended amount of time. Danielle would actually be getting a third chance at love — she appeared on the first season of Bachelor In Paradise and left without a love of her own. Don't you think that this nurse — she's a healer, no less – should get a chance to pick from a crop of America's best bachelors?
Ashley Iaconetti (Chris’ Season)
Ashley is known for crying and sobbing and her eyelashes, but she’s really so much more than her Kardashian looks. Ashley has a Master’s degree in Journalism from Syracuse University, she can write, and she’s really good at making fun of herself. Her perfect combination of over-the-top emotional response and smart quips would make her a wonderful Bachelorette.
Leslie Hughes (Sean's Season)
Leslie only made it to week four before Sean Lowe sent her packing, but I still think she’d make a great Bachelorette. She talked at length to The Daily Beast about the lack of diversity on The Bachelor , and I think putting her at the helm of the first season of The Bachelorette with a woman of color would put ABC’s money where its mouth is.
Michelle Money (Brad’s Season)
Michelle was seen as a villain on Brad’s season of The Bachelor, but I always liked her. And her amazing eyebrows. Even if she was a little dramatic when she was on The Bachelor, she’s certainly matured and it would be wonderful to see whom she would choose should she want to be the Bachelorette.
Amber James (Chris' Season)
Amber is a Bachelor vet. She was on Chris' season, she was on Bachelor In Paradise 2, she popped in for a look at Ben's season, and she went home alone every time. Can we throw this girl a bone here and give her her own show? I bet she'd find love then.
Tenley Molzahn (Jake’s Season)
For the love of all that is good in this world, get Tenley on The Bachelorette. I watch this poor woman on every Bachelor In Paradise, and she just thinks she is unlovable and can’t get a date. Tenley is America’s sweetheart, and she deserves to be treated as such.
Whitney Bischoff (Chris’ Season)
Let’s really spice things up here – let’s take a former Bachelor winner whose relationship with the Bach has dissolved. Whitney was smart, kind, beautiful, and plenty fun — actually, she was way too fun for Chris. Whatever the reason they split, who cares? She should be the new Bachelorette and get a second chance at television love, but this time calling the shots.
Jubilee Sharpe (Ben's Season)
I know I said that ABC should shop around a little bit more for the next Bachelorette, but they wouldn't have to if they had noticed what was right in front of them. Jubilee was funny, smart, beautiful, and so, so real — Ben couldn't really handle her. She was just too complicated, meaning, oh, she had some thoughts of her own. She also had a backstory that I think viewers can relate too — not everyone's life is great all the day, and Jubilee is a survivor.
Who do you think should be the next Bachelorette? ABC has plenty of choices.
Images: Kelsey McNeal/ABC; Craig Sjodin/ABC (2)
